Proposed calendar rewards high-achieving students

Commerce – Administrators with the Commerce ISD are proposing a 2010-2011 academic calendar that would release successful secondary students early for summer.

Middle school and high school students who pass all their coursework, all sections of the TAKS and have good attendance and discipline will be released on May 24 instead of June 2.

The program, called the Optional Flexible Year (OFY) Program and sanctioned by the Texas Education Agency, gives students an incentive to do their best on the TAKS tests and offers additional time for small group and one-on-one instruction before the next round of TAKS testing.

Many Texas schools are already using the OFY calendar to encourage their students to do their best.

Another feature of the proposed calendar is that school will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving.

Citizens are encouraged to express their opinions about the proposed calendar on the district website at www.commerceisd.org. The calendar will be presented for Board approval in February.